La Moncloa ties itself to Zapatero (despite 'Julito's' declaration)

MadridDespite Julio Martínez's change in strategy, which implicates former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in the Plus Ultra rescue, Moncloa sticks to its script. In the press conference following yesterday's council of ministers, spokesperson Elma Saiz defended the credit granted to the airline during the pandemic and, furthermore, assured that the Spanish executive "continues to maintain the presumption of innocence" of Zapatero. Saiz did not want to deviate from this: she refused to comment on the statements of Julio Martínez Martínez (alias "Julito") and also of the president of Plus Ultra, Julio Martínez Sola, who point to the former president as a key figure in the rescue, as the National Police does through UDEF, and limited herself to saying that the judicial investigation is in an early stage.

In this regard, Moncloa's narrative is based on two pillars: on the one hand, that the 53 million to Plus Ultra were disbursed following the established procedure, "without pressure" from anyone; and, on the other, that they believe Zapatero's version, who until now has limited himself to denying everything. "Nothing changes," stated sources from the Spanish government on the same day that Julio Martínez Martínez confirmed Zapatero's role before the judge of the Audiencia Nacional."Of all the versions, we believe Zapatero's," they stated, as they attribute the statement to a defense strategy to emerge unscathed. However, does this mean that Moncloa has more details about the former president's account or about the jewels found in his office? According to Pedro Sánchez's circle, not at the moment, but, nevertheless, they continue to trust that it will be explained publicly sooner or later. "We are waiting for it," these sources affirm.

In fact, the only two things Zapatero has publicly said so far are: he published a video on the day the case broke out, May 19, to deny any involvement in the Plus Ultra bailout; and he issued a statement on the day he testified before Judge José Luis Calama, just a month ago, in which he asked for the public's "trust" because the truth would eventually come out. When asked about this situation, Spanish Vice President Yolanda Díaz, also present at the press conference after the council of ministers, asked Zapatero to explain himself publicly. Although she subscribed to Saiz's words, she did go further in demanding that the former Spanish president defend himself, also politically. "There is unease, sadness, and concern among the public," she stated. This position is, in fact, also maintained by some PSOE leaders, who believe the party has become too tied to Zapatero when he has not yet explained why he had jewelry in his office, nor is he refuting the accusations of Julito.

The PP, on the other hand, points to the Moncloa

In the PP's opinion, the "confessions" of both Julio Martínez Martínez and the Plus Ultra executives, sent in writing to the National Court, not only compromise Zapatero but also "point to Moncloa". "It is evident that Zapatero, Moncloa and the PSOE have been lying for weeks because they have no other option left," said the popular spokesperson in Congress, Ester Muñoz, at a press conference in the lower house, prior to the conclusion of the businessman's statement. Although there is currently no evidence, Muñoz believes it is evident that "Zapatero called the president or some minister" to favor the airline's rescue, and argues that Pedro Sánchez's future is inseparable from what happens with Zapatero because "they are the same". "They have always done everything together," she stressed.

On behalf of Vox, the parliamentary spokeswoman, Pepa Millán, defended that “without the current government of Spain and without Sánchez's tolerance, Zapatero's activities could not have been carried out”. But at another press conference in Congress, Millán pointed out that Martínez Martínez's statements “must be verified” because “on their own they do not constitute proof”. However, the far-right party criticizes that the Spanish president continues in La Moncloa when there are indications that “Zapatero would be the leader of a macro-scheme” and that Sánchez is “an accomplice and architect of the worst corruption known”.

On the other hand, from Catalonia, Esquerra has avoided vouching for Zapatero, but has stressed that there must be "proof" of what the businessmen also implicated in the case say. While the Comuns have been harsher: they have assured that the former president's actions are "inexplicable". "No progressive understands that someone from the socialist party has 1.5 million euros in a safe", she concluded.